The Russian Federation is suspending its participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Speaker of the Russian Parliament Vyacheslav Volodin said on Tuesday, Kyiv Independent reports.

Volodin would qualify the assembly as “an absolutely dependent politicized organization that dances to the tune of Washington.” The State Duma and the Federation Council will consider the issue of ending Russia’s participation in the Assembly on February 21.

“The worst thing about this situation is that we are still paying money and we are one of the biggest players, so we have to come out and stop the transfer of funds,” he added.

What is the OSCE?

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is an inter-parliamentary body consisting of 57 member states. The Assembly was established in 1991 to promote the OSCE’s objectives, including conflict prevention and resolution, and the strengthening of democratic institutions in all OSCE member states.

Since 1993, the Assembly has observed elections in more than 30 countries in Europe, Africa, North America and Asia.

Last summer, the OSCE PA officially recognized Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism due to its participation in the Wagner Group. This time last year, the OSCE Secretary General told German journalists that Russia should remain in the organization to preserve diplomatic channels.

Subsequently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, boycotted the OSCE meeting due to Russia’s continued presence in the organization.

Kuleba’s spokesman said Russia was abusing the OSCE consensus rule and resorting to blackmail and open threats to block key issues such as Estonia’s bid for the presidency in 2024.

Over the past two years, Russia has been expelled from several international human rights organizations, including the UN Human Rights Council.